Cut-off mechanism for tanks.



W, P. NORRIS. CUT-OFF MECHANISM FOR TANKS. APPLICATION mp0 116.24. 19.14.

INVENTEIRQ WITNESSES:

-. ATTORNEY.

WILLIAM P. NORRIS, OF SISTERSVILLE, WEST VIRGINIA.

CUT-OFF MECHANISM FOR TANKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

Application filed August 24, 1914. Serial No. 853,334.

To all whom 1' t may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. NORRIS, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Sistersville, county of Tyler, and State of Vest Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cut-Off Mechanism for Tanks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to apparatus for controlling the drainage of fluid from oil and other tanks, and specifically to an automatic cut-ofi' valve and controlling mechanism therefor.

The primary object of the invention is to provide mechanism whereby, when the fluid contents of a tank has reached a predetermined level, the tank will be automatically closed against egress of said contents.

A further object is to provide a valve whereby the entrance of air therethrough' to the main gravity line is eflectually prevented, thus obviating the well understood (llfllculties encountered when air is so admitted.

A still further object is to provide a device of the character mentioned whereby fluid is prevented from entering the tank by gravitation from other tanks located at higher levels.

Another object of the invention is to structurally improve the mechanism disclosed in my former United States Patent No. 1,016,516, dated February 6, 1912, rendering the same particularly adapted for application to steel and other tanks where it is desirable that such mechanism be located exterior to the tank.

With these and other important objects in view, the invention resides in the features of construction, arrangement of parts, and combinations of elements which will hereinafter be fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention applied to a tank, the latter being shown in vertical section; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same, showing the sleeve mounting for the movable rod in vertical section; Fig. 3 is an enlarged section of the valve, taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44:, Fig. 3.

Referring to said drawings, in which like designating characters distinguish like parts throughout the several views1 indicates the side walls, and 2 the top of a tank of the character generally employed in the oil fields for containing oil. Extending outward from said tank at a point adjacent to its bottom is an oil discharge pipe 3 leading to the main gravity line (not shown), which line may have a large number of tanks communicating therewith. Located on said discharge pipe at a suitable point adjacent to the tank is a valve whereby the passage of fluid through said pipe is controlled, said valve comprising a suitable casing 4 having a horizontally disposed inlet arm 5 adapted for attachment to one member, and a vertically disposed outlet arm 6 adapted for attachment to the next adjacent member, of said pipe. Said casing is preferably formed of a single casting and has a cover 7 detachably mounted thereon, as by means of bolts 8, a gasket 32 of suitable form being disposed beneath said cover. Fitted within said casing in a vertically disposed position ad acent to the inlet arm 5 is a suitable strainer 9, said strainer having its opposite edges received in grooves or channels 10 and 11 whereby it is maintained in stationary position. Located in front of the position occupied by the strainer, orbetween the inlet and outlet arms 5 and 6, is a division wall 12, preferably formed integral with the easng, which divides the interior of said casing into two parts or chambers. An opening 13 is provided in said division wall for the passage of fluid, and encircling said opening on the outlet side of said division wall is an annular flange 14 the face of which constitutes a seat for a flat valve 15 which is suspended and swings from suitably located rings or hooks 16, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4., said valve having a stem 17 with oppositely disposed horizontal arms 18 rotatably seated in said rings or hooks.

Extended horizontally through the side walls of the casing in front of the path .of swinging movement of the valve 15 is a shaft 19 which has an arm 20 fixed thereon at a point directly in front of said valve, said arm being adapted to be carried by movement of said shaft into and out of nions 23' journaled in an embracing ring or yoke 24: carried by a bracket arm 25 which is suitably mounted, as upon the top of the tank. Pivotally mounted at a suitable point, as upon said bracket arm, is a lever 26 having an upturned end 27 to which is pivoted one end of a latch 28 whose opposite end is normally received in a notch or recess 29 provided in the rod 22 close to the upper end of the sleeve 23 for supporting said rod in the elevated position shown in full lines in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, in which position the arm 20 is maintained out of engagement with the valve 15, permitting the latter, under pressure of the outflowing fluid, to swing open, or away from its seat.

Vertically movable through the opposite or rear end of the lever 26 is a vertically movable float rod 30 of the character disclosed in my said former Patent No. 1,- 106,516 carrying a float 31, said rod being adjustable and adapted to trip said lever 26 and withdraw the latch 28 when the fluid has dropped to a predetermined level in the tank. When said latch is withdrawn from the notch 29, the rod 22 is released, and, actuated by the weighted arm 21, said parts drop to the position indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 3, which action rotates the shaft 19 rearward, carrying therewith the arm 20 which acts to move the valve 15 to a seated position, cutting off the flow of fluid. To reset the apparatus, the rod 22 is elevated by hand and the latch 28 is'inserted in the notch 29.

As is obvious, by adjusting the float rod to trip the lever before the oil has lowered to a point where air willbe admitted to the pipe 3, the entrance of air to the main gravity line is prevented. Further, as 18 apparent, the valve 15 effectually guards the tank against the inflow of fluid from tanks wall located within said casing and having a passage for fluid therethrough, a valve for closing said passage, a shaft extending through said casing, an arm fixed on said shaft, said arm in one position of the shaft being withdrawn from engagement with said valve and in another positionof said shaft maintaining said valve seated, a crank arm carried by said shaft outsidethe casing, a rod pivotally connected to said crank arm and extending above the top of the tank, means for maintaining said rod and said crank arm in elevated positions, and automatically actuated means for releasing said rod to allow said crank arm to fall, whereby said shaft is rotated for carrying the valveseating arm to its last-mentioned position.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM P. NORRIS. Witnesses T. J. McCoy, N. H. MYERS. 

